It’s a tough question, given the PSR issue, but… | OneFootball

Ahead of Liverpool v Newcastle in the Carabao Cup Final, we are looking to gauge the thoughts of Newcastle United fans ahead of that 4.30pm kick-off at Wembley on Sunday.

So we have asked a number of regular and irregular contributors to The Mag a range of questions.

How they think things are looking ahead of this massive match.

Whether or not they have a ticket for this Carabao Cup Final and what they expect to see happen when Newcastle United meet Liverpool.

Next up we have David Punton:

Ticketed or ticketless for Sunday?

Alas, I’m in the bracket who don’t have a ticket for Wembley, so I’ll be settling in to watch in on the TV.

The old favourite, would you rather win this Cup Final on Sunday or qualify for the Champions League via the Premier League (Obviously bearing in mind the PSR/money side of things as well)?

Newcastle United haven’t won anything in my lifetime thus far, so it’s the cup win all the way.

I know the Premier League is the bread and butter but the chance to win something would be huge for the club and the city. I’d so desperate to win something I think I’d even take it if we’d go down a year or so later!

Maybe a bit more difficult, would you rather win on Sunday but have no Champions League qualification these next five seasons, or lose on Sunday and have Champions League qualification guaranteed for each of the next five seasons. (Obviously bearing in mind the PSR/money side of things as well)?

Win a cup. As above. We all want to see the club get their hands on a top flight trophy. It’s a tough question, given the PSR issue, but I’m coming down on the side of getting a cup.

What would be your starting eleven in the Carabao Cup Final?

Two things on this. A team I’d like to see and the team I think Eddie Howe will go with.

The team I’d pick: Pope, Trippier, Burn, Schar, Tino, Tonali, Bruno, Willock, Joelinton, Isak, Murphy.

The side I think Howe will go with: Pope, Trippier, Burn, Schar, Tino, Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton, Barnes, Isak, Murphy.

My preference is Joelinton on that left side. He could hurt them from there and they maybe won’t expect it.

What would have been your starting eleven if everybody had been available?

That leaves a conundrum about Dan Burn, who has just been picked for England.

Pope, Trippier, Burn, Botman, Hall, Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton, Gordon, Isak, Murphy.

What chance do Newcastle United have of lifting the trophy (rating it between 0 and 10)?

I would say 6.5.

We need to play very well, get a bit luck, and hope Liverpool are a bit leggy.

How important was the West Ham match to our chances in the final? Has defeating the Hammers gave us a better (or worse?!!) chance, compared to if NUFC had lost on Monday?

Massive. To get a win under their belt was just the confidence boost they needed. Players hopefully can see what it takes to win and feel they can pull this off.

Similarly, what impact do you think it will have on Newcastle’s chances, what happened at Anfield on Tuesday night against PSG?

This is Liverpool we’re talking about, so the events at Anfield perhaps not as much as we think.

They do have 120 minutes in their legs though, maybe some fatigue, but their squad depth is very good.

Who do you think are the three most important players on Sunday and in what order and why?

Isak – one word: goals.

Bruno – needs to pull some strings in midfield and sneak forward to get on the end of something.

Burn and Schar. They have to try and shut out one of the best attacking sides in Europe.

Looking back at your time supporting Newcastle United, which are the times when you thought NUFC were potentially going to win something?

I was never confident for the 1998 and 1999 FA Cup finals.

The League Cup final in 2023 was a huge missed opportunity, I did think at the time we could have won that game, as I’d seen Eddie Howe teams beat Man Utd.

The time I really thought we would win something was the 2004 UEFA Cup campaign. When we got past PSV and into the semis I thought we could pull it off. If Woodgate had stayed fit we would have, but he didn’t, and we blew that second leg of the semi-final in Marseille.

Would this automatically be the highlight of your time supporting NUFC if they beat Liverpool on Sunday?

Yes. Simply has to be. We don’t have a great record against Liverpool but I’m clinging to the hope we are long overdue a win against them.

A top flight trophy would be fantastic. It feels like our turn but the players have to make that the reality. Play the game, not the occasion.

Anything special planned if/when we win this Cup Final?

I think some local hostelries and Indian restaurants will be beckoning that’s for sure. If we do it. If.

Do you think if Newcastle United win this trophy it will live up to what you ever hoped it feel like, or do you think maybe a bit of an anti-climax, as in…is that it?

Good question. The feeling I am sure will be an enormous buzz. I just can’t see it being an anti-climax at all, should they pull it off.

How would you describe how you feel ahead of this match – excited, terrified, can’t wait, dreading it…?

Terrified. This down to how we’ve fared in previous finals and the quality of the opponent. We need a lot to go our way on Sunday.

Do you think Eddie Howe and his team have got enough recognition for even getting to the final, considering the fact that in this cup run Newcastle have defeated current top four sides Chelsea, Forest and Arsenal (twice!) just to get to Wembley? Well pointed out! It’s a heck of a cup run when you look at it that way. Arsenal over two legs felt a bridge too far but we managed it.

Sometimes a club’s media profile depends on the badge. We’re not seen as box office as Manc club, for example. So no, there hasn’t been enough credit for the run to this final.

Howe has turned water into wine.

In your optimistic moments do you think back to our first game in the competition this season, behind in the penalty shootout at Forest, then think maybe this was all meant to be…?

That’s the way to look at it. One of these times it’s got to be our year.

How do you feel compared to two years ago before the Man U final?

Similar nerves. In a way, I am slightly less confident this time as Liverpool are so bloody good. As per my previous answer, I’m wrestling with the idea that it’s our year and maybe just for once a final might go our way.